Michelle Uzeta

Michelle Uzeta serves as Executive Director of DREDF. A seasoned civil rights attorney with deep expertise in disability law and fair housing, Michelle leads DREDF’s mission to advance the rights and equality of people with disabilities through legislation, litigation, and education.

Michelle has litigated landmark cases and led high-impact policy initiatives in areas including housing, transportation, access to government programs. and access to places of public accommodation. Her work has helped establish and clarify the rights of disabled people under key civil rights laws including the Fair Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. She has been a trusted voice in policy discussions at the local, state, and national levels for decades.

As the Executive Director of DREDF, Michelle oversees the organization’s legal advocacy, public policy, and training and education initiatives. She works to ensure that the rights enshrined in landmark disability rights legislation are vigorously enforced and that disabled people have access to the resources and representation they need to live full and independent lives. Under her leadership, DREDF continues to serve as a critical resource for disability rights advocates, attorneys, policymakers, and community members nationwide.

Michelle is widely recognized for her commitment to intersectional civil rights advocacy and her ability to connect the lived experiences of people with disabilities to concrete legal and policy change. She brings to her role a collaborative spirit, a rigorous legal mind, and an unwavering dedication to justice and inclusion. Her leadership is rooted in the belief that true equality for disabled people is inseparable from collective access and collective liberation.

Michelle holds a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. and Certification in Public Interest Law from the University of California, Davis School of Law.